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Plantation Echoes 



A COLLECTION of ORIGINAL 
NEGRO DIALECT POEMS 



'By 

Elliott Blaine Henderson 



Columbus, Ohio 

PRESS OF F. J. HEER 

1904 



T S "3 i" » ^ 



Entered According to Act of Congress 

in the year 1904 

BY E. B. HENDERSON 

In the office of the Librarian of Congress 
at Washington. 



%\.\ 



DeDication 

THIS BOOK IS RESPECTFULLY 
DEDICATED TO 



HOWARD BURBA 

L. WALTER HARRISON 

PROF. L. M. LAYTON 

T. J. Mccormick 

OSMAN C. HOOPER 

Literary Editor of the Columbus Dispatch, 
Columbus, Ohio. 



INTRODUCTION 



\ "T^ HE music of the American negro, the fresh and spon- 

i I ^ taneous expression of a good and care-free heart, has 

long been one of the most pleasing features of Ameri- 
can life. Jilt is human nature in its first vocal garb — original 
and unique, often humorous and always true to the sentiment 
of the singer. If there ever was an illustration of the close 
relationship between language and thought, it is this. 

What is true of the melodies of the negro as developed 
in the simple existence on the plantation is also true of that 
other form of singing, verse-making. Among the negro'es 
there have sprung up a number of exponents of the wisdom, 
wit and humor of the race. They have caught the spirit of 
others — the humble philosophers of their kind — and they 
have employed the dialect to reproduce the thought in all its 
quaintness and originality. One of the most notable of these 
exponents or interpreters is an Ohio negro, Paul Lawrence 
Dunbar, who has taken high rank among the poets of the day. 
Another is Elliott Blaine Henderson, also a son of Ohio, whose 
first volume of verse is herewith presented. 

In much that Mr. Henderson here presents, there is the 
rush of expression and the jingle of words that are so char- 
acteristic of the negro. There is also humor and there is 
sentiment, and always that other quality which makes verse 
in these days readable — good cheer. 

He who correctly interprets the spirit of his race serves a 
good cause, and it is believed that Mr. Henderson will be 
found to have succeeded in his undertaking to make his people 
better and more widely understood. 

E. G. BURKHAM, 

Editor of the Columbus Dispatch, Columbus, Ohio. 



CONTENTS 



When the Moon Hangs Low 9 

Seems Dey's No Place 10 

Good Bye, Honey, Good Bye .12 

Whut We Gwine To Do 14 

Kaze I kno' I Kain't Stop 16 

Dahky Whut Yo' Doin? 18 

When De Fiah Am Kindlin' Hot 20 

Lammentation 22 

When De Summah's Dun Cum 23 

The Coon's Serenade 24 

BHssful Anticipations 25 

Pawson Johnson At Dinner 27 

Go 'Way, Mah Honey 28 

Brer Possum Declines 30 

I Hain't Foolin' Honey 31 

Sleep— 33 

A Profuse Encomium 34 

Peepin' Th'ew De Husk 35 

Axin' Coon Cum Obeah 38 

Hustle— . 38 

Go Sleep 40 

Kase De Sun Am Sinkin' 41 

Soft Falls The Night 43 

Git On Board, Chillun 44 

Uncle Ned An' De Mockin' Bird 46 

Po' LiT Rastus 48 

Sambo's Rain Philosophy 50 

Jes' Keep Er Lookin' Up 51 

Wished I'd Rode Mah Hoss 53 

Eggs! Eggs!! Eggs!!! 54 

7 



8 CONTENTS. 

It Am De Possum Time 55 

Stick To Your Race 57 

Memorial Day 58 

Trussy's Visit . 60 

Is Yo' Lonesum, Honey? 64 

Larn-To He'p Yo'se'f 64 

Courtin' O' De Phone 66 

Lonesum Valley Christmas Tree 68 

Yes, Wees Got Er Flag 72 

Hi, Mistah Dahky 75 

Dey's Er Col' Wave Breshin' Nigh 77 

Force Of Words 79 

I Tol' Yo' So 80 

The Passing Of Night 82 

A Tale O' Woe 83 

Lullaby 84 

The Exstacy of Uncle Joe 85 

Keep Er Coin' 87 

Climin' Up De Hill 88 

Sistah Ruffle 90 

The Gallant Blacks of San Juan Hill 93 



WHEN THE MOON HANGS LOW. 

A straying chicken 

Lost from home 
Bewildered, finds 

Itself a-roam. 
And innocently 

Stalks the ground, 
Not dreaming 

That a coon's around. 

As evening's shadows 

Gently fall, 
The chicken, lonesome, 
' Gives a call. 
A coon steals out 

Soft in the night. 
To catch him 

For his appetite. 

The night is still ! 

The moon is low ! 
Xot e'en a zephyr 

Seems to bloAv. 
The coon with sack 

Clutched in his hand. 
Moves silently 

Across the land. 
9 



iO PLANTATION ECHOED. 

The chicken gives 

Another squawk ! 
The coon has got her 

Like a hawk. 
The moon now breaks 

Forth into Hght, 
The coon and chicken's 

Out of sight. 

^* 1^ V?* 

SEEMS DEY'S NO PLACE. 

Well er coon kin go to kollege 

Git his head chucked full o' knowledge, 

Till he knows ez much ez Solonion de wise. 

He kin study an' summize, 

Count de stars up in de skies, 

Seems dey's no place 

Fo' de eddeekayted coon. 

Tawk erbout yo' eddeekayshun 

Gittin' in de cullahd nayshun, 

Gittin' "lighten" in de head an' sich ez dat, 

Yo' kin larn sah, till yo' hat 

On yo' head woan' fit exzac', 

Seems dey's no place 

Fo' de eddeekayted coon. 

Eddeekayshun am all right 

Ef er coon kin git er sight 

'Stead o' makin' bread an' buttah by de hoe, 

He kood entah any do' 



PLANTATION ECHOES. II 

Whah he's qualified to go. 
Seems dey's no place 
Fo' de eddeekayted coon. 

He doan' alius want to hoe, 

He wood like er little sho, 

Fo' to git er little sweetness out o' life ; 

He has had er worl' o' strife, 

Alius struck by trouble's knife. 

Seems dey's no place 

Fo' de eddeekayted coon. 

All de coons kin cut dey pranks 

Fo' to git into de banks, 

Wid de white fo'ks fo' to handle wid dey cash 

Dat wood sorter spile de hash, 

Make er fraycus an' er clash. 

Seems dey's no place 

Fo' de eddeekayted coon. 

All de coons kin go to Yale, 

Larn Greek, Latin, by de bale, 

Larn to numbah all de hyahs up in dey -head ; 

Dey may read dis thing wid dread, 

Nufin' else kin dey be said. 

Seems dey's no place 

Fo' de eddeekayted coon. 

Ez I saunter 'roun' de town. 

An' I skim mah eyes eroun', 

Whah de white fo'ks am in business ebbry where, 

Yo' kain't find er coon in dare 



fi PLANTATION ECHOES. 

Wid de white fo'ks sellin' ware. 
Seems dey's no place 
Fo' de eddeekayted coon. 

f^t f^V (^* 

GOOD BYE, HONEY — GOOD BYE. 

Gwine to leeb dis dear ol' place, 

Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 
Time's er flyin', I mus' make has'e, 

Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 
Hate to go, but I kain't say no, 
It gives mah hea't er pang o' woe, 
Yo' all's mah fren', not one's mah foe, 

Good bye, honey; good bye! 

Sistah Jane, an' uncle Joe? 

Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 
I hope we'll see us all sum mo', 

Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 
We's gittin' ol', we's gittin' gray, 
Ah days am dun' fo' makin' hay, 
Ah steps cum slo' we's wastin' 'way, 

Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 

We's had good times on dis ol' place, 

Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 
We's frollic'd in de possum chase. 

Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 
We's picked de cotton, hoed de co'n, 
We's picked de berries spite o' thorns, 
We's wocked at night, we's wocked at morn, 

Good bve, honey ; good bye ! 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 1 3 

Hain't dat Miss Linndy, obeah dah? 

Good bye, honey; good bye! 
Sho' it am ; well, I declah ! 

Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 
Cum an' shake de ol' man's han', 
Gwine to leeb ol' massa's Ian' 
'Deed, Miss Linndy, yo' look gran', 

Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 

Rastus? little Rastus, chile, 

Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 
Look ee dah, jes' see him smile, 

Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 
Jes' ez natshul ez his paw, 
De bes' chile dat I ebbah saw. 
Got de mannahs ub his maw. 

Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 

Whah is Massa, is he 'roun'? 

Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 
'Pears' I koch his footstep soim'. 

Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 
I 'fess it's hard to leeb him now, 
To say good bye, I doan' kno' how, 
I'll shake his han', jes' make er bow. 

Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 

Mockin' bird up in de tree ? 

Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 
Yo's sung er manny day to me. 

Good bye, honey; good bye! 



14 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

Er manny day dis hea't o' mine 
Yo's cheered it wid yo' song divine, 
An' made de sunlight brighter shine, 
Good bye, honey ; good bye ! 

t^* ^^* c^* 

WHAT WE GWINE TO DO? 

Well, de way de thing am lookin' 
To ol' Hezzeekyah Yoon, 

Dis kentry's gittin' wussah 
Fo' de po' and he'pless coon. 

Dey lynch him on de lef, 

An' dey lynch him on de right, 

Dey cum an' git er niggah 
In de day an' in de night. 

Whut we gwine to do? 

Hain't dey no whah in de Ian'? 
Hain't dey fo' de niggah 

Not er kin' an' he'pin' han' ? 

Oh de niggah's got er moighty 

Tuff an' thorny road to tread — 
Dey's bullets, clubs an' razzahs 

Alius flyin' at his head. 
It's er mer'kul all de niggahs 

Haben' suffer'd dat same fate, 
De string up to de lamp-pos' 

An' de string up to de gate. 



l6 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

When de signul's gibbun 
Fo' to rally 'roun' de flag, 

Nebbah fo' er minute 

Am er niggah seed to lagg. 

De niggah hain't rebelyus 

Though he doan' git all things jus': 
He's loyal to his kentry, 

Nebbah habs betrayed his trus'. 
He alius takes de bitters 

'Zactly lak he does de sweet, 
He goes right on light hea'ted, 

Wid er tew step to his feet. 

Whut we gwine to do? 

Hain't dey no whah in de Ian' ? 
Hain't dey fo' de niggah 

Not er kin' an' he'pin' han'? 

f^* f^t ifinf 

KAZE I KNO' I KAIN'T STOP. 

Summah breezes blowin', 

An' de sun am roas'in' hot ! 
Jes' right am de meadows 

Fo' to take 'em fo' er cot ! 
Grasses sof an' downy, 

Am jes' like er feddah bed! 
Hain't er spot dat am mo' 'vitin' 

Fo' er niggah lay his head ! 



PLANTATION ECHOES. I5 

Ah tell yo' whut's de mattah, 

Sah, de feebah's mountain high. 
When ah 'fleck ub ah kun'dishyun 

Makes dis niggah sot an' cry. 
To hyeah de fo'ks er tawkin' 

How de niggah's got to fare, 
Dey mob, dey burn an' lynch him. 

An' dey skin him lak er hare. 

It's true dey's lots er niggahs 

Dat am wurfluss to de co', 
De debbul wooden' hab 'em 

Even inside ub his do'. 
But de Lawd in heaven knows 

Dat all de niggahs hain't dat way, 
Dey's lots dat's good an' hones' 

An' dey nebbah goes estray. 

De niggah hain't to blame — 

To cum hyeah he diden' kyeah. 
De white fo'ks, why dey made him, 

Why dey fotch'd him obeah hyeah. 
An' now to knock his head off 

Kaze he's tryin' to git erlong, 
Accawdin' to my Bible, 

Why de whole thing ub it's wrong. 

De niggah loves dis kentry — 

Ebbry time he'll put up fight. 
Fo' it wheddah it am 

In de wrong- ah in de risfht.- 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 17 

But er niggah, kain't stop ! 
Mus' keep hoein' at de crop ! 
Out de weeds mus' keep er pullin' 
Till he's ready, mos' to drop ! 

White man take it easy, 

Am er livin' lak er king! 
Free ez am de buzzahd. 

Doesn't hab to do er thing ! 
Niggah 'd lak to togg up 

In his Sunday meetin' dress. 
An' jes' lak de white man. 

Sot, an' lay back, take his res'. 

But er niggah, kain't stop ! 
Mus' keep hoein' at de crop ! 
Out de weeds mus' keep er pullin' 
Till he's ready, mos' to drop ! 

Sumtimes git to 'fleckin' 

Scratch dis head whah it doan' itch ! 
Axin' why de Lawd, sah, 

Diden' make dis niggah rich ! 
But dey hain't no use to kick, 

But jes' keep er josslin' 'long. 
Now an' den I keeps er whis'lin' 

An' er hummin' at mah song. 

Kaze I kno' I kain't stop! 
Mus' keep hoein' out de crop! 
Out de weeds mus' keep er pullin' 
Till Ise's ready, mos' to drop! 



l8 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

Now an' den I sortah 

Git er ticklin' in mah heel ! 
Fo' to go to dancin' 

At de or Verginny reel ! 
Soople ez a skeedah ! 

Dance de jig fum night till morn, 
Xebbah stop er minute, bruddah, 

Fo' an' ache er fo' er co'n ! 

But er niggah, kain't stop ! 
Mus' keep hoein' at de crop ! 
Out de weeds mus' keep er pullin' 
Till he's ready, mos' to drop ! 

^ «^ v^ 

DAHKY, WHUT YO' DUN? 

Oh, but how er dollah 

Is er moighty fren', 
In de dead o' wintah, 

Ef yo' idle den. 
Winds dey may be howlin', 

Whizzin' th'ew de trees ! 
Needen' worry, dahky, 

Yo' hain' g^vine to f reez ! 

Summah is er flyin'. 
Breezes gittin' cool ! 

Beddah be er layin' 
In vo' wintah fuel! 



PLANTATION ECHOES. I9 

Leaves begin to fallin', 

Harvestin' is dun, 
Birds am now er troopin' 

Soufward wid de sun. 

Hoein' time is obeah, 

Dahky take yo' res' ! 
Th'ow off wockin' hahness, 

Don yo' Sunday bes'! 
Fiddles an' de banjos — 

Git 'em all in tune, 
'Nipulate de ditties 

Gibbs de soul er boon! 

In de spring an' summah, 

Dahky whut yo' dun? 
Ridin' on de skershuns, 

Habin' lots o' fun? 
Dancin' wid de ladies, 

Spen'in' all yo' got? 
Thinkin' kaze it's summah, 

'Twill be alius hot ? 

Yo' de kine cum 

Knockin' on de cabin do', 
Fo' to get er sistance, 

Tell 'er tale o' wo'. 
Den's de time to sho' yo' 

We's no easy thing, 
'Videin' fo' yo' stummucks 

Wid ah hoe earnin'. 



20 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

Whut yo' needs er lesson 

In de 'speerence school. 
Git de realizayshun 

Whah yo' bin er fool. 
Den yo'll git de idea, 

Dollah is yo' fren', 
Larn to be mo' kyahful 

How yo' money spen'. 

ji ji ^ 

WHEN DE FIAH AM KINDLIN' HOT. 

When de sno' it am er fallin,' 

Winds er whizzin' down de lanes, 
x\n' de fros' it am er freezin' 

Fo' yo' eyes erpun de panes, 
Whut am beddah den er neslin' 

'Roim' er fiah dat's roas'in' hot? 
Fo' er pickahninny dahky 

Hain't er mo' enchantin' spot. 

When de breezes am er mOanin' 

An' de sun am sinkin' lo'. 
An' de gloomy clouds an' shaddahs 

Geddah 'roun' erbout yo' dO'; 
When yo' hyeah de co'n er poppin', 

See de cidah all er foam, 
In yo' soul de joy an' gladness 

Seems eroun' erbout to roam. 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 21 

An' yo' granny am er hummin', 

Cat er purrin' on de rug, 
An' yo' git er sniff de burbun 

Dat am steamin' fum de jug — 
Umph ! de berry 'maggahnayshun 

Makes er puson think it's real. 
It am glory ! Hesh yo' mouf , sah, 

Doan' yo' ax me how yo' feel. 

All yo' troubles an' yo' burdens 

Seems to take de swif'es flight ! 
'Pears yo' berry soul am lif ed . 

To de blissful mountain heights ! 
Whah de lan's erflo' wid honey, 

Streets an' alleys paved wid gol'. 
An' de simphonnies o' heaben's 

Got er sweetnes' kaint be tol'. 

Yo' kin sing de song o' Moses, 

Shout yo'se'f clah to de sky! 
Pickahninny's den in cloveah. 

No time den to weep an' sigh. 
Let de sno' keep on er fallin', 

Let de breezes whizz an' moan, 
Longs er pickahninny's neslin' 

'Roun' er hot fiah ub his own. 



22 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

LAMENTATION. 

When de rent cums due 

An' yo' haben got er doUah, 
An' yo' hab to hunt 

Fo' er nuddah place to wollah, 
De wintah's dun cum, 

An' de coal pile's sinkin', 
Dey's nufin' in de cupboard 

An' yo' stummuck am er tinkin', 

How yo' head wool geddahs ! 

How yo' hunt an' scratch ! 
Fo' to skibbah up er doUah 

Beats de ol' Sam Patch! 

When yo' sot an' 'fleck, 

Seems befo' yo' keeps er bobbin' 
De possum an' de coon, 

An' de peach an' apple cobblin'. 
Yo' dream bout summah, 

Wid de joocy wattah millun, 
Dat yo' sotin' in de middle 

An' yo' stummuck jes' er fillin'. 

How yo' mouf does wattah ! 

How yo' stummuck jes' jump ! 
An' yo' eyes am all er twinkle 

An' yo' hump ! hump ! hump ! 

When de night cums on 

An' dey hain't er nuf de kibbah, 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 2^ 

While yo' bunk an' snooz 

Fo' to keep yo' fum de shibbah, 
De coal's dun sinkin' 

Till it am no mo', 
De weddah am at zero, 

De worl am kibbahd in de sno', 

How yo' head wool geddahs ! 

How yo' hunt an' scratch 
Fo' to skibbah up er doUah 

Beats de ol' Sam Patch ! 

^^v ^* ^^* 

WHEN DE SUMMAH'S DUN CUM. 

When de wintah's dun gone 

An' de summah's dun cum, 
An' de birds begin dey wahble 

An' de bees begin dey hum, 
An' de hills, de fields, de meadows 

Wid de verdure all am green, 
An' de heaben's panorama 

Am er mos' enchantin' scene, 

Den er niggah kin sing ! 

Den er niggah kin hum ! 
Kaze de wintah's dun gone. 

An' de summah's dun cum ! 

When de vines am climin', 

Spreadin' beauty on de run, 
An' de cullahs o' de lan'scape 

An' de sky dey blen' ez one, 



^ PLANTATION ECHOES. 

An' de flowahs ez dey's buddin' 

An' er blossom' an' er bloom. 
An' de breezes fan dey petals 
Koch dey sweetes' smellin' 'fume_. 

How yo' soul inspahs ! 

How yo' hea't does tickle! 
Den er niggah am happy 

Ef he haben' got er nickel ! 

When de craps am wavin' 

An' de tassel's on de co'n, 
An' de apples am er drapin' 

An' de sweepahtayters born, 
An' de cabbage am er headin', 

Swellin' lak dey got de mumps, 
An' de passnups am er peepin' 

Winkin' at yo' hine de stumps, 

How er niggah kin whis'le ! 

How his soul does 'joice ! 
'Kaze it's time fo' de millun 

An' it's time fo' de squash ! 

(^V 1^* %^^ 

THE COON'S SERENADE. 

In de lonesum ub de night 

When de moon's er shinin' bright, 

Coon er sotin' on er stump 

Picks de banjo, plinkertee plump ! 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 2$ 

Sof ly floats de mournful 'frain 
'Cross de dewy, grassy main — 
Plinktee ! plinktee ! plinkertee plump ! 
Picks de coon erpun de stump ! 

Ebbry win' an' ebbry breeze, 
Ebbry twig erpun de trees. 
Echoes wid de plinkertee plump ! 
Ub de coon erpun de stump ! 
Plinktee ! plinktee ! plinkertee plump ! 
Picks de coon erpun de stump ! 

Ez de night glides slo'ly on, 

An' de moon slips down fo' dawn, 

An' de veil draps fum de skies. 

An' de worl' opens its eyes, 

Dies erw^ay de plinkertee plump ! 

Ub de coon erpun de stump ! 

Plinktee ! plinktee ! plinkertee plump ! 

Stops de coon erpun de stump 

^% ^w ^* 

BLISSFUL ANTICIPATIONS. 

Jes' gimme summah all de time, 

An' lemme take it easy. 
Jes' lay back in de cloveah beds 

An' dream whah it am breezy. 
I doan kyeah fo' no robe ner crown 
Ez long ez I kin wollah 'roun' 
An' nebbah hab to hoe de grown'. 

Ha ! ha ! vo' thinks Ise lazy ! 



^ PLAXTATIOX ECHOED. 

I'd spawk an" court Miss Lissy Jaoe — 

Umph! but I'd cut er splurtah I 
I'd teU her dis, I'd teU htr ia:. 

Fus' one thing den er nuddah. 
We'd ramble whah de wild flow'rs bloom 
Dat fill de air wid svii*eet scent 'fume 
\\'hah dey's no clouds an' dey's no gloom ! 
We'd sot de worl' to fiuttah ! 

rd git mah banjo fum de wall 
An' now an' den go plinkin' ! 
I'd make de dahky's heels jes' itch 

To dance ez fas' es winkin' I 
I'd make her sing, I'd make her moan, 
I'd sen' er tone to Gabriel's tlirone, 
I'd play dem tricks befo' tmknown. 
Id sot de fo*ks to thinkin'! 

I kno' yo' thinks dis dahkv' sic' 

An' tawkin' jes' fo' blowin* ! 
-Aq" buildin' castles in de air, 

.An" debbilment er sowin'. 
It's jes. prezaxly lak I say. 
Jes* shows Ise ol' an' shows Ise gray. 
Befo' de Lawd ! it's almos' day ! 

To bed ! de chicken's crowin' ! 



PLANTATION ECHOES. :^7 

PAWSON JOHNSON AT DINNER. 

He'p you'se'f, mah bruddah, 

Jes' make yo'se'f at home ! 
'Kaze yo' am no stranger 

To Siss Wiggle Sloam. 
Go 'head on dat chicken, 

'Kase it tissen skace ! 
"Doan' yo' worry, sistah, 

I is in no has'e ! 

"Lan' sakes, Sistah Wiggle, 

You' treat me lak er king! 
Ha ! ha ! 'skooze me, sistah. 

One mo' chicken wing ! 
Tote me few dem waffles, 

Chittlins good an' hot ! 
Ebbah thing ise eatin' 

Trabbles to de spot ! 

Lawd Gawd ! Sistah Wiggle, 

I jes' seed dat 'possum ! 
Hiden' an' er grinin' 

'Hine dat sunflow'r blossom ! 
'Fo' I'd let dat possum 

Git out o' mah sight, 
Th'ow erside mah Gospel, 

To de las' I'd fight ! 

Bruddah, kain't yo' sortah 
Gibb er little toas'? 



2^ pLaxtatiox echoes. 

"Deed I kain't, Gawd knows it, 
Whah dey's possum roas' ! 

Feed de lambs, mah Sistah, 
Whut de good book say ! 

Yo's fulfillin' Scripshah 
Treatin" me dis way! 

GO' 'WAY, MAH HONEY. 

Gitin' sortah 'ristercratic 

Go 'way, mah honey ! 
Sistah Jane, de ol" roommatic ! 

Go 'way. mah honey ! 
Th'ow'd erway her dress o' mattin' ! 
Wearin' silk an' wearin satin' ! 
Right in style, de lates' patte'n! 

Go 'way, mah honey ! 

Wearin" hoops, an' got er bustle ! 

Go 'way, mah honey! 
When she passed, Lawd, how dey rustle ! 

Go 'way. mah honey ! 
Umph I she stepped lak Queen o' Sheeba, 
Clah out dressed ol' Sistah Feeba, 
Hel' her trail lak dat Miss Xeeba ! 

Go 'way, mah honey! 

High heel shoes, she's wearin', too! 

Go 'way, mah honey! 
Look to me dey's numbah two ! 

Go 'way, mah honey I 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 29 

Paten' leddah wid er buckle ! 
Hot stuff, reglah honey suckle ! 
When she pass'd, oh how fo'ks chuckle ! 
Go 'way, mah honey! 

Doan' yo' kno' she had on powdah ! 

Go 'way, mah honey ! 
White fo'ks kooden' looked mo' loudah ! 

Go 'way, mah honey! 
Had her hyah smoothed down wid tallow ! 
Bangs in front was short and shallow ! 
Gibb her face er p'culiar pallow ! 

Go 'way, mah honey ! 

Umph ! she tried to tawk so proppah ! 

Go 'way, mah honey! 
Spoke dem wurds dat was er whoppah ! 

Go 'way, mah honey ! 
See her primp her mouf and tickle ! 
Made her look so pow'ful fickle ! 
Bet she diden' hab er nickel ! 

Go 'way, mah honey ! 

Scan'lous 'bout sum cullahd people ! 

Go 'way, mah honey ! 
Mattahs not how ol' an' feeble ! 

Go 'way, mah honey! 
Git on sum new bibb an' tuckah! 
Dey'll out step sah! ol' Dan Tuckah! 
Doan' kyah ef dey's er co'n shuckah ! 

Go 'way, mah honey! 



30 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

BRER POSSUM DECLINES. 

Way in de tree 

Sots ol' Bruddah Possum! 
Hey, dah ; I see yo' 

Bruddah Possum, hine de blossom! 
Yo' needn' ac' so timid, 

Xer yo' needen' ac' so shy, 
Dey's beddah, closeah frenship 

Fo' er possum, closeah nigh ! 

Pley, dah, Bruddah Possum, 

Yo' ac'in' moighty 'trary; 
Saunter down er minute ! 

Now, yo' needen' hab no worry, 
Ner pusnul tooberayshuns, 

An' de sich, de lak er dat! 
Cum down, yo' needen' boddah 

^^"hat de bawkin' dogs er at ! 

Look hyeah, Bruddah Possum, 

Bleeb yo' feelin' kine o' skeery! 
Gittin' tiad er coaxin', 

Makes me feel er little dreary ! 
Doan' lak so much beggin', 

Xer I doan' lak so much pleadin,' 
■'Speshly to mah mine, 

When dey's not er bit o' needin'. 

Hey, dah, Bruddah Possum, 
Yo' jes' lak ol' Bruddah Satan ! 



PLANTATION ECHOES. Jl 

Think de odds er gin yo', 

An' yo' keep er fellah waitin'. 
Well, it doesn't mattah, 

Ef yo' 'sist on me er climein', 
Hoi' yo' bref er minute! 

'Kase hyeah cums up 
Bruddah Highmen ! 

I HAIN'T FOOLIN' HONEY. 

Seed yo' wid yo' gal las' night ! 

I hain't foolin', honey ! 
Had yo' arms eroun' her tight ! 

I hain't foolin', honey ! 
Umph ! whut made yo' squeeze her so ? 
Jes' bekaze yo' am her beau? 
I'd bin her I'd let yo' go! 

I hain't foolin', honey ! 

Seed yo' try to steal er kiss ! 

I hain't foolin', honey ! 
An' she slapp'd yo' wid her fis' ! 

I hain't foolin', honey ! 
Po' gal kooden' hardly speak! 
Shocked to def wid all yo' cheek ! 
Go way, Gumbo, yo's er sneak! 

I hain't foolin', honey ! 

Yallah, too, hain't she Gumbo? 

I hain't foolin', honey! ; 



32 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

Reason dat yo' love her so! 

I hain't foolin', honey! 
Ef she had de wooly hyah, 
Face ez black ez ol' pine tah ! 
Court her ? bet yo' wooden', dah ! 

I hain't foolin', honey ! 

Gwine to marry her. Gumbo? 

Stop yo' foolin', honey! 
What dat? say yo' doesn't kno' ? 

Stop yo' foolin', honey ! 
Ax'd her fo' her hea't an' han'? 
Bet yo' habben' got de san' ! 
'Fess up. Gumbo, umph ! mah Ian' ! 

I hain't foolin', honey ! 

Bet she hain't stuck on yo' 'tall ! 

I hain't foolin', honey! 
Does she kiss yo' when yo' call? 

Stop yo' foolin', honey ! 
Lan' sakes, Gumbo, yo' woan' do ! 
Go 'way ; no, I woan' kiss yo' ! 
Git yo' big foots off mah shoe! 

I hain't fooHn', honey! 

I doan' kiss no rusty coon ! 

I hain't foolin', honey! 
Who, yo' be mah chaperoon? 

Hain't you foolin', honey? 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 33 

Pick mah comp'ny, whut I do! 
Lawd sakes, knows I doan' want yo' ! 
Good day, home Ise long go due ! 
I hain't fooHn', honey ! 

c^* ^* t<5* 

SLEEP. 

Sleep ! 
Cums de solemn night, 
An' de day's tuck flight! 
Not er bird ner coon 
Am er whis-lin' choon. 

Sleep ! 

Sleep ! 
Slo' de hours slip 'long 
To de brooklet's song, 
In de sof deep hush 
Cums de star's sweet blush. " 

Sleep ! 

Sleep ! 
In er lonesum tone 
Ez he creep erlone, 
Cums de cricket call 
Fum de vine clad wall. 

Sleep ! 

Sleep I 
Up de hillside steep 
Now de moon take creep! 



34 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

I 

Th'ew de cab"n loft, gleam 
On er coon in dream. 
Sleep ! 

^ ji ^ 

A PROFUSE ENCOMIUM. 

Lookin' nice to-night, Miss Liza, 

Yo's out dressed 'em all to-night. 
AMd dat ah so frusterka}i:un 

Yo' so dazzhn" in de light I 
Please doan' '*stre\Y mah wurds fo flattah 

Spoken incandessenly, 
But! wid mutuallistic frankness 

'Cep 'em fabbrykayshenly. 

*''Thank you, Mistah Johnsin', 

Do yo' think I look so fine? 
'Deed sah, Mistah Johnsin', 

Yo' so asterroshus kine. 
\Voan' yo' sot beside me 

An' conversykate er while. 
Please doan' hab no skooples 

Kaze Ize togged up in dis style." 

''Y'o's suppassed yo'se'f. ]vliss Liza, 
Quiv-vah-kay-shah-ently gran', 

An' yo' grace dis runkshus 'kayshun 
Lak one fum de glory Ian'. 

Ef yo' hab no inter jeckshuns 
Will yo' dance er step wid me? 



PLANTAfiON ECHOES. 35 

Kaze sech 'joicin' frollerkayshun 
Gibbs fellerisher-tish-shus glee." 

" 'Skyoose me, Mistah Johnsin*, 

I doan' kyah to mingel late, 
I wood raddah be specktay-shus 

Sotin' hyeah wid Mistah Gate. 
Not dat I doan' d' sah yo' tenshun 

An' doan' preeshee-ate yo' 'ques', 
I prefer tran-quil-ler-kayshun 

Sotin' lookin' at de res'." 

" 'Cep' mah 'pology, Miss Liza, 

Fo' mah troo-ser-tay-shus 'ques'. 
I jes ax'd yo' fo' politeness, 

Tho't yo'd lak to jine de res'." 
" 'Tain't er bit o' trooshun, 

Mistah Johnsin', not at tall ! 
I may grant yo' axin' 

When we 'ten' sum uddah ball." 

Jt ji Jt 

PEEPIN* TH»EW DE HUSK. 

Dahky, doan' worry, 

Kaze de wintah's dun gone! 
Craps am all er sproutin' 

Soon we'll hab de sugah co'n! 
Den we'll roas' an' stew it 

An' we'll fry it in de pan, 
Th'ow de buttah on it 

Nufln' fineah in de Ian' ! 



36 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

Hain't er gwine to worry, 
Needah make er bit o' fuss ! 

Kaze de sugah co'n 

Will soon be peepin' th'ew de huss ! 

See de wattah milluns 

How dey s cumin' on de vine ! 
Lawd er mussy, chillun, 

Puts yo' teef erpun de grine! 
Mussen' think er bout 'em, 

Gits mah stummuck all er jump ! 
Hea't er fas'ah beatin' 

An' er thumpin' ! thump ! thump ! 

Hain't er gwine to worry, 
Needah make er bit o' fuss ! 

Kaze de sugah co'n 

Will soon be peepin' th'ew de huss ! 

When de wattah milluns 

Git kervellopd on de vine, 
Wlnkin', peepin' at yo'. 

How er dahky's eyes shine! 
An' yo' buss' 'em open 

An' yo' see de blushin' red, 
Haben' got er minute 

Fo' de bressins to be said! 

Hain't er gwdne to worry, 
Needah make er bit o' fuss ! 

Kaze de sugah co'n 

Will soon be peepin' th'ew de huss 1 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 37 

Sun 'er creepin' higher, 

Am 'er gittin' pow'ful hot! 
Hoein' an' er weedin' 

Am er dahky's tufes' lot ! 
To de hoe er stickin' 

Till yo' back jes' ache an' ache, 
Sun er pohin' on yo' 

Makes er dahky nahly bake! 

Hain't er gwine to worry, 

Needah make er bit o' fuss ! 
Kaze de sugah co'n 

Will soon be peepin' th'ew de huss ! 

Mo' yo' keeps er hoein' 

Fas'ah seems to gro' de grass ! 
Dahky gits to thinkin' 

Hoein' time will ebbah las' ! 
Weedin' an' er hoein' 

Ef er dahky was to stop, 
Sho' ez am de gospel 

Wooden' git er bit o' crop! 

Hain't er gwine to worry, 

Needah make er bit o' fuss ! 
Kaze de sugah co'n 

Will soon be peepin' th'ew de huss ! 



38 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

AXIN, COON? CUM OBEAH. 

Meadows lak er feddah bed, 
Sproutin' cloveah white an' red, 
Sof ez pillahs to de tread, 
Axin', coon ? Cum obeah ! 

Milluns loafln' in de grass, 
Flirtin' when er coon cum pass, 
When er look he dat way cas', 
Axin', coon? Cum obeah! 

Cabbage loafln' 'roun' de stump, 
Lookin' sassy fat an' plump, 
Swellin' up all in er bump, 
Axin', coon ? Cum obeah ! 

Coon er wockin' at de co'n, 
Doh dat's all fo' what he's bom, 
Wockin, night and' wockin' morn. 
Hain't got time cum obeah ! 

jii Jt ji 



HUSTLE. 

Doan' lag an' fool 
Erlong de way — 

Hus'el ! 
Doan' 'spec' to do 
All in er day — 

Hus'el! 



PLANTATION ECHOES. ^9 

Things will cum 
Out by an' by, 
Musen' stop 
To stew an' sigh. 
Den's when success 
May be nigh — 
Hus'el ! 

Take no time 

Fo' lookin' back — 

Hus'el! 
T' see whose cumin' 
On de track — 

Hus'el! 
Ebbry time 
Yo's losin' groun', 
Time yo' take 
Fo' gawkin 'roun'. 
Ef yo' 'spec' 
To git er crown — 

Hus'el! 

Ef yo' 'spec' 

Er good co'n crop — 

Hus'el ! 
Nebah git it 
Ef yo' stop — 

Hus'el ! 
Ef yo' 'spec' 
De corn to gro' 
Full co'n stawks 



40 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

In ebbry ro', 
Doan' be skaid 
To use de hoe — 
Hus'el ! 

Take no time 
To argufy — 

Hus'el! 
T' make sum fellah 
Out er lie — 

Hus'el! 
Ha'f de time 
Yo's losin' win'. 
Same time doin' 
Er little sin. 
Aftah all 
Yo' nuffin in — 

Hus'el! 

8^* ^% t^* 

GO SLEEP. 

Go sleep, liT pickahninny! 

Go sleep! 
De boogahman koch yo' 
Ef yo' peep! 

Go sleep! 
He prowlin' 'roun' 
Sof ez er cat — 
He kno' whah 

LiT pickahninny's at — 
Go sleep! 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 4I 

Go sleep, UT pickahninny! 

Go sleep! 
Still ez er mouse 
When creepin' keep — 

Go sleep ! 
De boogahman 

Am moighty peert! 
He sly or fox 
Dat's on de 'lert! 

Go sleep ! 

Go sleep, HT pickahninny! 

Go sleep ! 
I hyeah de boogah man 
Creep, creep creep! 

Go sleep ! 
He kotch er hoi' 

An' shake de do' — 
An' ope his mouf 
An' said wo*, wo' ! 

Go sleep! 

j» jz jt 

KAZE DE SUN AM SINKIN*. 

Droopy, droopy, am de flow'rs, 

Petals closed an' shrinkin', 
Gone er sleepin' an' er doze — 

Kaze de sun am sinkin' ! 
All de day er lookin' gran' 
An' er 'fumein' up de Ian', 



42 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

Baskin' now in slumbah's stran' — 
Kaze de sun am sinkin' ! 

Droopy, droopy, am de flow'rs, 
Petals closed an' shrinkin' 
Peepahs shet an' fas' ersleep, 

Kaze de sun am sinkin' ! 
Crystal brooklet glidin' 'long 
Chants to dem er cradle song, 
Res' an' slumbah, weary throng — 

Kaze de sun am sinkin' ! 

Droopy, droopy am de flow'rs, 

Petals closed an' shrinkin', 
Lull'd ersleep in fairy realm, 

Kaze de sun am sinkin' ! 

All dey tinsels tints an' hue 

Dat attracts de bees an' woo. 

Closed dey now am all to view — 

Kaze de sun am sinkin' ! 

Droopy, droopy, am de flow'rs. 

Petals closed an' shrinkin' ! 
Soon will wake wid birds an' bees, 

When de sun's dun sinkin'! 
When de sunlight mounts to view, 
At de tech o' mornin's dew 
Once mo' will dey ope to view — 
Kaze de sun's dun sinkin' ! 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 43 

SOFT FALLS THE NIGHT. 

This Poem is dedicated to Miss Axna Hall Smith. 

Soft falls the night — 

And chases 'way 
The slowly dying 

Summer day. 
The sun from his 

Ethereal height, 
Is curtained by 

The shades of night. 

Soft falls the night — 

The birds that tune 
Their song with nature 

In commune 
Now hush their lays 

Seek silent rest, 
Within their downy 

Leafy nests. 

Soft falls the night — 

Sweet peace divine 
In each heart comes 

To be enshrined. 
While angels pause 

On earth to show'r 
The blessings of 

The sovereign pow'r. 

Soft falls the night — 
A peaceful sleep 



44 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

O'er earthly mortals 

Doth now creep. 
They rest now from 

Their day's pursuit — 
The world is still. 

The world is mute. 

Soft falls the night — 

The verdure green 
Xow glistens with 

A dewy sheen. 
The flowers droop. 

Their petals close. 
They dream away 

In sweet repose. 

Sc:: iiits the night — 

L: '. iraks the dawn, 
Ar. i ::r:.re 'wakens 

V, ::/. :::e mom, 
Exulringly 

Ser.ds up her lays. 
Her 5 yni ph onies. 

7: Tti i in praise. 

ji ji ^^ 

GIT ON BOARD. CHILLUN. 

De Gospel train arr. er s::::in d:wn de rail! 

Gi: on board, :" i.' :: ! 
Fas 'ah den er ship vrid er ruddah an" er sail! 

Git on board, chillun ! 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 45 

De Lawd in heaben am de steam an' de pow'r ! 
He run dat train forty millun miles an' hour ! 
Jes' es stroke ub de throttle 
Sends her clah to heaben's tow'r! 
Git on board, chillun ! 

No sinnah tribe kin ebbah ride on dat train ! 

Git on board, chillun ! 
De debil ner his imps ef day's cut loose fum dey 
chain ! 

Git on board, chillun ! 
None but de lams ub de good Lawd's fol' 
Kin ride dat train to de streets o' goV, 
Wid de 'liggun lak an' ocean obeahflowin' in yo' 
soul! 

Git on board, chillun ! 

She's jes' lak lightnin' an' de quibbah o' de eye! 

Git on board, chillun ! 
Ez she's puffin' an' er steamin' in er trabblin' to 
de sky ! 

Git on board, chillun ! 
She's limited, too, an' she goes clah th'ew ! 
She's got no time fo' to fool wid yo' ! 
Yo' mus' git on board, when de time cums, doo I 

Git on board, chillun ! 

Dat train hain't skeddul fo' de secun' time. 

Git on board, chillun ! 
Fo' to cum an' fotch yo' to de heabenly clime ! 

Git on board, chillun! 



46 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

She goes straight on an' she doan' tarn back ! 
When she once git start why she hain't gwine to 

slack ! 
Till she runs in heab'n on de right side track ! 
Git on board, chillun! 

De debil ner his imps kaint wreck dat ol' train ! 

Git on board, chillun ! 
Ez she's dashin' an' er steamin' o'er de mountains 
an' de plain! 
Git on board, chillun ! 
She sticks to de rail lak de hyah on yo' back ! 
An' she nebbah was known fo' to jump fum de 

track ! 
Kaze de Lawd's at de throttle an' he sho' got de 
knac' ! 
Git on board, chillun ! 

^ j« ^ 

UNCLE NED AN' DE MOCKIN' BIRD. 

Bruddah Mocking Bird, 
Yo's moighty lazy. 
Yo' doan' do nufin' 

But sing dat song, 

Till de daylight's gone 

An' de night cum 'long. 
Er coon has got to hoe an' hoe, 
Till de sinkm' sun 

Tells de day to go. 



JPLANTATiON ECHOES. 4f 

Lawd, but yo' sing 

So pow'f ul sweet ! 
Perched up dah, 

In yo' leafy seat. 
Is yo' lonesum? 
Does yo' hea't feel sad? 
'Pears to me 

Dat yo' soul feels glad. 

Ez Ise wockin' hard, 

Sweet ez de cloveah 
Yo' song 

Floats obeah, 
Way in de co'nfield 

Whah de medlark sings, 
Up in de bough 

Ub de tree it clings. 

Yo' nebah wock 

But yo' bread is sho', 
Out in de yahd; 

'Fo' ebbry do', 
Sum kine han' 

Th'ows de little crum ! 
Kaze dey kno' fo' sho' 

Dat yo' boun' to cum. 

De good Samaritan 

Part dey play. 

Let yo' go 'way ? 
Hungry ? No ! 



48 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

Dey nebah wood, 
Kase de Lawd wood say 
Dat dey wasn't good. 

I kinedah lak 

To hyeah yo' sing, 
Ef yo' is too lazy 

To flop yo' wing, 
Sing on, 

Fill de worl' wid song. 
I mus' be gittin' 

Mah wock er long. 

^ jH ^ 

PO' LIX' RASTUS. 

Little Rastus feelin' blue — 

Po' liT Rastus ! 
Out o' sorts an' gloomy, too ! 

Po' li'l' Rastus ! 
Broke his little hobby boss. 
Makes de little fellah cross. 
Doan' cry, honey, 'tain' much loss. 

Po' li'l' Rastus ! 

He jes' wo' out, rompin' 'roun', 

Po' liT Rastus ! 
Git up, honey, fum de groun'. 

Po' liT Rastus! 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 49 

Look ee dah, dun spiled yo' dress, 
An' it am yo' Sunday bes', 
Now hain't yo' er poody mess ! 
Po' li'l' Rastus! 

Whut dat stickin' on yo' han'? 

Po' li'l' Rastus ! 
Yo' bin in de 'lasses can. 

Po' li'l' Rastus! 
Whut dat whut de Bible say 
'Bout de chile dat steal dat 'way? 
He'll go whah de bad man stay ! 

Po' li'l' Rastus! 

Dat ol' bad man am er sight. 

Po' li'l' Rastus ! 
Cum er sneakin' 'roun' at night. 

Po' li'l' Rastus ! 
Cum an' koch yo' when yo' sleep, 
Den he take er great big leap ! 
Down er hoi' dat's way down deep ! 

Po' li'l' Rastus ! 

Cum hyeah, little wooly head. 

Po' li'l' Rastus ! 
Gwine to tuck yo' way to bed. 

Po' li'l' Rastus ! 
Look ee dah, de day dun gone ! 
Shaddahs streamin' th'ew de co'n, 
Sleep until de sunlight dawn ! 

Po' li'l' Rastus ! 



50 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

SAMBO'S RAIN PHILOSOPHY. 

Whut's de use o' raisin' 

'Bout de weddah, cain? 
Kase dey's wid de sunshine 

Mixed in clouds an' rain ; 
Jes' ez well be lafin', 

'Joicin' in yo' soul. 
Frettin' an' er stewin' 

]\Iakes yo' gray an' ol'. 

Mussen' 'spec' to alius 

Git things jes' yo' way. 
Keep yo' eye kock'd open 

On er beddah day. 
Learn to 'cep' de weddah 

Ez de Lawd control, 
In time will be shinin' 

Sunshine bright an' gold. 

Lawd am boun' to sen' de 

Changes now an' den, 
Kaze He knows whut's beddah 

Fo' yo' in de en'. 
Fus' He sends de sunshine, 

Nex' He sends de rain, 
To gibb life an' viggah 

To de gol'en grain. 

It's de rainy weddah, 
Buds de flowahs out, 



PLANTATION ECHOES. gt 

Makes de wattahmilluns 

An' de 'tayters sprout; 
It's de rainy weddah 

Makes de fahmahs shout; 
Drives ervvay de famine, 

Drives erway de drout. 

^v tP^ iP* 

JES' KEEP ER LOOKIN' UP. 

Ef yo' fren's dey all fo'sake yo', 

Think yo' gwine flat to de wall, 
Salt an' peppah nebbah'll save yo' 

Fum an ebbah las'in' fall. 

Ef yo' got de right stuff in yo', 

You'll keep alius lookin' up, 
'Membrin' sum de worl's bes' jewels 

Drunk fum dis same bittah cup ! 
Ef yo' habben' got er dollah. 

An' no place to lay yo' head. 
An' de meadows an' de co'n fields 

Only places fo' yo' bed ; 

Ef de fo'ks am cuttin' capeahs 

'Fo' yo' puttin' on dey airs, 
Wid dey silks an' wid dey satins, 

An' all uddah kine o' wares. 

Ef yo' got de right stuff in yo', 
Yo'll keep alius lookin up, 



5^ PLANTATION ECHOEg. 

'Membrin' sum de worl's bes' jewels 
Drunk fum dis same bittah cup ! 

Dey may tramp erpun yo' feelin's, 
Dey may kick yo' on de co'n, 

An' may tarn dey nose up at yo' 
Ez dey pass yo' in dey scorn ; 

Smiles dey nebbah may hab fo' yo', 
Bes' yo'll git will be er frown, 

An' sum wurds mos' harshly spoken, 
Kaze dey think dat yo' is down. 

Ef yo' got de right stuff in yo', 

Yo'll keep alius lookin' up, 
'Membrin' sum de worl's bes' jewels 

Drunk fum dis same bittah cup ! 
Ef fo' bread yo' ax er bruddah, 

An' instead yo' git er stone. 
An' yo' ax fo' consullayshun. 

An' yo' bahly git er groan. 

An' sum knock yo' off yo' shins, 

An' think yo' nebah gwine to rise, 
Swah to God dey nebbah dun it, 

Meekly tell all kine o' lies; 
Let 'em go on hykerflootin', 

Ebbry dog sho' habs his day; 
Dey am uddah months, mah bruddah, 

Jes' es pleasant, ez am May. 

Ef yo' got de right stuff in yo', 
Yo'll keep alius lookin' up, 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 53 

'Membrin' sum de worl's bes' jewels 
Drunk fum dis same bittah cup ! 

WISHED I'D RODE MAH HOSS. 

Rode on dat ah 'lectric kyah ! 

Wished I'd rode mah hoss ! 
No musstake it raised mah hyah ! 

Oddah bin er long! 
Nebbah seed sech runnin' son ! 

Swo' we's flyin' to de sun ! 
Tho't dis dahky's days was dun ! 

Wished I'd rode mah hoss ! 

Gee ! dat thing did split de ah ! 

Wished I'd rode mah hoss ! 
Nuffin' wid it kin compah ! 

Oddah bin er long! 
Ebbry thing wuz blurred in sight ! 

Dus' flew higher den er kite ! 
Kooden' tell de lef fum right! 

Wished I'd rode mah hoss ! 

, When she struck eroun' de kyerve, 

Wished I'd rode mah hoss ! 
It unstrung mah ebbry nerve ! 

Oh, but I did squirm ! 
Oh, she kyahd us down de line ! 

No hobo kood stuck behine ! 
Ef he had he'd gone stone bline! 

Wished I'd rode mah hoss ! 



54 PLAXTATIOX ECHOES. 

Xow an* den she sortah reel ! 

Wished I'd rode mah hoss ! 
Stirred me up fum head to heel ! 

Lawd but I did quake ! 
Tawk erbout er pow'ful prah! 

I sho* made one den an' dah ! 
Strain was mo' den I kood bah ! 

Wished I'd rode mah hoss ! 

Once I hyeahd er moighty crack ! 

Wished I'd rode mah hoss ! 
Tho't she's gwine to leeb de track, 

Oddah seed me. Chile ! 
I felt mos' prekareyus, son ! 

I hain't tawkin' jes' fo' fun! 
Tho't dis dahky's days was dun, 

Wished I'd rode mah hoss! 

i^* t^* ^* 

EGGS! EGGS! ! EGGS! ! ! 

^^llen I 'lleck o' Eastah cum, 

Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 
Gits mah who!' soul all er hum. 

Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 
\\'hen de chickens flopp dey wings, 
Roostah cro'. de pullets sings, 
Gib me 'bove all uddah things — 

Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 

When de little chicks er creep, 
Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 55 

Run kerf relic peep ! peep ! peep ! ! 

Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 
Appetite gits sort impressed, 
Wood go good, roas' chicken breas', 
Still goes beddah, nebahless. 

Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 

When eroun' de ol' fiah place 

Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 
Eggs look yo' squah in de face, 

Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 
Git 'em fryin' in de pan, 
Soun' lak music o' de ban', 
Chilian? Whee! But hain't dey gran'. 

Eggs ! eggs ! ! eggs ! ! ! 

Eat 'em poach 'er eat 'em bile, 

Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 
Make yo' hit yo' granny, chile. 

Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 
When yo' eat 'em scramble, son, 
Feel dat yo' kood lif er ton, 
Er brack bar yo' kood out run. 

Eggs! eggs!! eggs!!! 

«^ ^ e^ 

IT AM DE POSSUM TIME. 

Weddah gittin' chilly, 

Fros' er fallin' on de vine! 
Leaves er tarnin' yallah, 

Now de possum time is fine! 



56 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

Hickahnuts er fallin', 

Wid er thud, thud, thudd ! 

Poppin' an' er crackin' 
An' er bus'in out de bud! 

It am de possum time! 
Yes, it am de possum time ! 
It am de time er niggah 
Fo' de coon to go to dime! 

Crickets all er hollah 

Tell er niggah it's de fall ! 
Ripenin' am de 'simmions 

Fo' de great an' fo' de small ! 
Niggah jes' er waitin' 

Fo' de fallin' o' de sno', 
Fo' to chase de rabbit 

Ez he's wingin' on de go! 

It am de possum time ! 
Yes, it am de possum time! 
It am de time er niggah 
Fo' de coon to go to clime ! 

When de sun's dun sinkin' 

Cums de shinin' o' de moon, 
Niggah'll take de wahpaf 

Fo' to go to tree de coon! 
Wid de dogs er bahkin' 

All er chasein', all er romp ! 
Sniffin' at de grasses 

An' er scratchin' at de stump! 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 57 

It am de possum time ! 
Yes, it am de possum time ! 
It am de time er niggah 
Fo' de coon to go to clime! 

STICK TO YOUR RACE! 

Umph ! how some cullahd fo'ks wan' to be w^hite. 
Bekaze dey am brack dey doan' nebah seem right. 
Dey's shame ub dey cullah ; dey's shame ub dey race; 
Dat's why dey wood lak to be white in de face. 

Bekaze dey kain't bleech out, O, how dey deplore, 
Fo' to be cullahd to dem's sech er bore. 
To think de Lawd sent dem all into dis Ian' 
Wif hyah dat am kinky an' faces dat's tan. 

Fus' to de lef an' den nex' to de right, 

Dey look to see if dey am sumfin' in sight 

To make dem bleech white, gib dem cheeks ub de rose 

An' sumfin' to gib dem a high Roman noze. 

Dey's kickin' an fussin' an' raisin turmoil 
Bekaze dey kain't git hoi' de right kine ub oil 
To take way de kinky effect dey kaint bah. 
An' make it jes' lak de white folk's auburn hyah. 

Dey use mutton sooit an' tallow, an' lard, 

Oh Lward er Mussy ! but don't dey try hard! 

To make it look wabey an' glossy an' slick. 

Den paht in de middle dey am right to de quick. 



58 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

Ef dey hain't no hope, why dey go git a wig. 
It mus' be made fum white fok's hyah, too, by jig. 
Umph; who; Miss Sukie? why she wooden' dah 
To wah a wig made fum a coon's nappy hyah. 

Whut's de use er kickin' 
Bekaze o' sech rot? 
Bekaze yo' kain't bleech. 
An' turn white on de spot! 

Ef yo' hyah's kinky, 
Yo's brack ez de tar, 
Thank de good Lawd 
Dat yo's jes' lak yo' are. 

f^t 5^* (^W 

MEMORIAL DAY. 

To sound of muffled drums to-day, 

With slow and solemn tread ; 
The soldiers march with banners draped 

Where dwell heroic dead. 

The blue, the gray of this fair realm 

Assemble o'er this land. 
Recount the deeds of valiant men 

As one vast mourning band. 

The rich, the poor, the high, the low, 

Observ^e this sacred day. 
For all alike in days gone by 

Have laid some friend awav. 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 59 

For death the mighty reaper comes 

To rich as well as poor. 
Unwelcome guest though he may be, 

He comes to every door. 

To deck the graves of dear loved ones 

Beneath luxuriant bow'rs, 
Countless willing loving hands 

Pluck nature's tender flow'rs. 
The tokens of a reverent love 

For friends of that blest vale, 
A love the ravages of time 

Can never change nor pale. 

This day recalls much of the past — 

The nation's bloody wars. 
The sacrifice of noble lives — 

To make dominant the stripes and stars. 
In philosophic narrative, 

In eulogy and praise. 
In honor of heroic dead 

The speaker's voice doth raise. 

And for the country's honor fought 

The black man once a slave. 
Encouched within the history's folds 

The statement, "he was brave !" 
Within the marching ranks to-day 

Are remnants of the freed 
Who fought and bled upon the field 

When 'twas the country's need. 



6o PLANTATION ECHOES. 

TRUSSY'S VISIT. 

Bress mah life! why, dis hain't Trussey? 

Go 'way Chile ! whut dat yo' say ? 
Yo' hain't fiddlin' Peedah's sonny — 

Who'd er tho't it, any way ! 

Ax me ef I knowed yo' daddy — 
Knowed each uddah yeahs ergo. 

Me an' him hab bof togeddah. 
Hoed er many 'taytah ro'. 

Res' yo' duddin's ! take de sofa, 
Make yo'se'f jes' lak yo' home. 

'Cep' mos' free mah hooskerpalty, 
Plenty time eroun' to roam. 

See, hyeah, Dina, am dem chittlins 
An' dem hog feet th'ew er bile? 

Who yo' think we got fo' dinnah? 
or fren' Fiddlin' Peedah's chile ! 

Well, sah, I hain't seed yo' daddy 
Since dat fight at Possum Trot. 

Dog mah socks, we bof togeddah, 
Whoop'd de debbil on de spot! 

Still er libbin' down in Guinea? 

Why, dat's my ol' rompin' groun'. 
Hain't er spot, ner nook, ner crebbice 

Dat I doan' know 'bout dat town. 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 6l 

Ready, Dinah? Bress de Lawd! umph! 

Mah ol' lady am er sight. 
Kin she cook ? Whut ? Doan' yo' staht me ! 

She kin sho' put things up right! 

Walk out, Trussy ; go pertaykin' 

Ub de bes' de ol' man's got ! 
Kose tain't much, but prob'ly sumfin's 

Dah will kinedah tech de spot ! 

Go 'head, say de bressins, Trussy, 

Fo' de Lawd sakes cut 'em short. 
Lemme pos' yo' fo' yo' staht in, 

Doan' yo' preach an' try to e'ort — 

"Make us thankful, Heab'nly Faddah, 

Fo' dis hyeah pussipyus spread ; 
Hyeah deez few mos' feeble 'spreshyuns 

Dat yo' umble sahvunt shed. 

"Gibb us wid ah daily bread, sah ! 

Chicken, an' all sech ez dat ! 
Th'ow in now an' den er possum. 

Coon wid plenty lean an' fat ! 

"Po' dy bressins on dis family — 

Put mo' chickens on dey roos' ; 
Things git skace, dey needs er he'pin', 

Len' er han', gibb 'em er boos'." 

Jump in, Trussy; git to business! 
Ebbry fellah fo' himse'f. 



62 PLA^TTATIO^ EIZIZS. 

Whu: 5 :; T^h io \is on if :^: e's 
K.:: :: i :e er possmn's rt: 



Ha ! h '. 



.1 er chtme! 
iz Tmssy 
: 1^: coon! 



Yo' hain": full kir. :: v: daiij 
Ef yo' doesn't lak de coon; 

Possum, chicken, sweepah:a -e: 
An' de smi^^ns mushtrr: :: 



Tell us Tjout oF Tootsy Tadpole, 

Slipshod Bed)e. Feeby Scott! 
S -52^: ? : ehole, Sukie Slowup, 

Hji : 2: Its, de re?" de lot. 

Does I membah Slinnny Twostq)? 

Who? dat dah ci' onrj cuss? 
Usetah hug de stove when happy. 



T_ ,1 X. ^:_.j ^« 1.:^- 


: r fuss? 


G:':': :::" " : : : : :; i.:-:;i 


- ■ c - -z 


Si-ts r 5 t5 It:; ::::: 


-i: 


— --^ -.-..,-,. -^--- -■^--- J_: __■... 


:^ii:v:.:i 


It: : r ilts yo' to yo irt: 




WTiah'soF S -- -^^ 


-_.--.. -. 


Is de dd)bil gc: r tr t: 




Sakeso'Kelshes r: r 


husim's 


Den yo's fingers r :: 11! 


It:; 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 63 

Cum on wid dem pig tails, Dina ! 

Doan' be primpin' in de glass ! 
Mussen' make de ol' man wait so, 

Yo' look poody nuf to pass. 

Bress de Lawd ! whee ! glory ! glory ! 

No joke, dem am sizzlin' hot ! 
Lissen at de res' dem fellahs 

Prayin' an' singin' in de pot ! 

Go 'way, Fido ! see hyeah, Dina ! 

Kick dat debbil out de do' ! 
Ebbry time he sniffs dem chittlins 

He's er hangin' 'roun' hyeah, sho'. 

See hyeah, chile ! yo' hain't th'ew eatin'. 

Rake mo' dumplin's on yo' plate ! 
Go dem flapp jacks, sum dat grabey, 

Eat 'long in de mopein' gait. 

Pass de ol' man few dem biskits ; 

B'lieve I'll take sum poke chops, too ! 
Little mo' dat drap down coffee, 

Nuddah dose dat bullyun stew. 

Go on in de pollah, Trussy, 

Ef yo' got ernuf to eat. 
I'll be th'ew in jes' er minute, 

Den we'll go an' thrash sum wheat. 



64 PLAXTATIOX ECHOES. 

IS YO' LONESUM, HONEY? 

Ez de twilight fall, 
An' de koo-koo call, 
An' yo' doan' hyeah 'tall 
Dis hyeah coon's foot fall, 
Is yo' lonesum. Honey? 

Ez de moon creep high, 
In de starlit sky. 
An' yo' sot an' sigh, 
Kaze I doan' cum nigh, 

Is yo' lonesum. Honey? 

Ez de night creep on, 
Till de sun brings dawn, 
Ez yo' wake an' yawn 
In de cool ob de morn, 

Still, yo' lonesum, honey? 

^ (^ ^ 

LARN TO HE'P YO'SE'F. 

Bruddah Dahky, ef yo'd win, 

Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
^lussen' stop fo' knocks on shin, 

Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 

Stop yo' whinin', try an' try. 

Take no time to weep an' sigh, 

Dah's whahin' yo' success lie. 

Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 6$ 

Yo' mus' fus' prove yo's er man. 

Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
Try'n to 'skewt sum noble plan, 

Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
Oh, de white fo'ks knows yo's brave, 
Fo' dis freedom Ian' to save, 
Dat yo' fit on Ian' an' wave. 

Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 

All de white fo'ks hain't yo' foe. 

Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
Dey will gibb yo' plenty, sho'. 

Ef yo' he'p yo'se'f. 
All er long dey's bin mos' kine, 
He'p'd yo' 'long er many line. 
Is to all dis yo' stone bline ? 

Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 

Dah's Abe Linkum, Phillips, too, 

Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
Bet yo' life dey fit fo' yo'. 

Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
Thousands mo' dat I kood name, 
^ 'Mong dem, men o' nashnul fame, 
Fo' yo' dahky dun de same. 

Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 

Sum de white fo'ks moighty mean, 

Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
Likewise sum de brack fo'ks seem 
5 Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 



66 PLAXTATIOX ECHOES. 

Ebbry race got p'culiar way, 
Guess it all goes in de play ; 
Live in hopes dey'll change sum day 

Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 

Yo'" kin shout an" yo" kin sing. 

Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
Think yo's 'neef de mahstah's wing. 

Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 
But yo'll nebah git er crown 
Ef yo' sot an" fool eroun' , 
Dis am Gospul true an' soun'. 

Larn to he'p yo"se"i. 

Dahky. stop dat little song — 
Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 

Gimme Jesus, take ^vorl" "long, 
Larn to he'p yo'se'f. 

Try to grip sum o" dis Ian', 

Den yo'll feel mo' lak er man ; 

Yo' am boun" to git sum san", 
Ef yo' he'p yo'se'f. 

^ «^ 1^ 

COURTIN' O' DE PHONE. 

Jingahling! jingahlingi 

When er sotin' lone. 
Yo' kin call yo' honey — 

Go to courtin' o' de phone. 



PLANTATION ECHOES. (i^J 

Drives erway de shaddahs, 

Makes yo' quit yo' fret an' stew, 
Fills yo' soul wid sunshine, 

Opens up yo' hea't ernew. 

Jingahling! jingahling! 

Dis yo', Liza Jane? 
''Yes, dis am yo' honey," 

Cums de sweet an' sof'en 'frain. 
Den yo' go to pohin' 

In her ear de words o' love : 
Tickles her to def, 

An' makes her think she am er dove. 

Jingahling! jingahling! 

When yo' hyeah her say : 
''Honey, when yo' gone it's 

Alius night an' nebbah day," 
'Pears dat while dey's fallin' 

In yo' ear, dat lovin' tone, 
Yo' kin see yo' honey 

Standin' dah befo' de phone. 

Jingahling! jingahling! 

Svv^eetah grows de tone. 
jNIakes er niggah neerly 

Ram his head clah th'ew de phone. 
Kaze dem sugah wurds 

Dey sho'ly make yo' hea't inspah — 
'Lecktrifies yo' spirit. 

Sots yo' whol' soul all er fiah ! 



68 PLAXTATIOX ECHOES. 

TingahlingI jingahling! 

When de day is dun, 
You no mo' kin see de 

Blazin". dazzlin", sinkin' sun. 
How yo" lub to 'membah 

'Bout yo" courtin" o' de phone, 
Ez yo" muse an' pondah 

In yo' cabin all er lone ! 

JK (^ t^ 

LONESUM VALLEY CHRISTMUS TREE. 

Bes" ub all de Chrismus 'tainmunts 

Dat I axshly ebbah seed. 
Was de one at Lonesiim A'alley 

At de church ub Pawsun Weed. 

All de or fo'ks an' de chillun 

Dress purraded out dat night. 
To de graid big Chrismus 'tainmun' 

Fo* to git dey Chrismus mite. 

When dey's geddahd in dat chapel, 

Bruddah. — ? Dey was thick ez hops, 
\\'hen de chillun seed de candy. 

Smack'd dey m.oufs an' lick'd dey chops. 

Dey was He. He. an' er lalin' 

An" er clappin' o' dey ban's. 
An" dey jaws jes' kep' er crackin", 

Lak de chittlins in de pans. 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 

An' de ol' fo'ks tell yo' honey, 
Sah I bleeb dey was de wuss. 

Dey's so ankshus fo' dey 'freshmun's 
Dey's mos' reddy fo' to bus'. 

Preechah Weed wid dat dah swallow 

Tail an' ves' ub his cut low, 
Jes' had all de flouncin' sistahs 

Leggin' fo' to be his boh. 

Bruddah Hookey he puzzided ; 

Felt so big he thowt he's king; 
Tuck er ball bat, rapp'd fo' ordah. 

Said, let's cleah ah th'oats an' sing. 

Well, he tuck his pussnel meedah, 

Gib de linin' ub de hymn. 
An' dey sing'd de "Weepin' Moses" 

An' dey sing'd it too, by Jim ! 

At de klooshun ub dat ditty, 
Deekun Jaspah put up prah, 

Th'ow'd his haid clah to de ceilin' 
Dough he seed de Gates er jah. 

Dis hain't true, I'll eat de 'possum, 
Sech er prah yo' nebbah hyea'd ; 

Scratch'd his haid an' weep'd an' hollahd 
Tell his eyes lak blud was red. 

Oh, he's moanin' and er tonein' 
An' er kotchen' ub his bref — 



69 



70 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

Spit erpun his ban's an' rubb'd em — 
Pound de bench fum right to lef. 

Las' he 'klooded an' de sistahs 
Staht to sing plantashun coon. 

Bruddah Hookey diden' lak it ; 
Tol' 'em dey was mos' too soon. 

But de mos' fun ub de evenin' 
Was when gibbin' presen's out. 

Yo'd er crack'd yo' sides er lafin' 
Tell yo'd got er hoi' de gout. 

On de tree dey was er chicken ; 

Wasn't laybeld wid er name. 
When de dahkies hyeahd erbout it 

Ebbry one put up er claim. 

Bruddah Gyahdnah spied de chicken 
Floppin' 'neef de Chrismus tree; 

Made er home run wid er hollah ; 
"Dat dab chicken am fo' me !" 

Well, sah, when he hoUah'd chicken 
'Twas de same ez holl'rin fiah, 

Fo' dat chicken was er stampeed 
In de church an' in de quah. 

Sum de sistahs dat had room'ticks 
An' de aches fo' yeahs an' yeahs, 

Fo' dat chicken was er scramblin' 
An' a fallin' obeah cheers. 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 7^ 

Preechah Weed he got so 'cited 

Dat he run clah out his coat, 
Fell ergin de stobe kerwollup ! 

Butt his haid an' swo' by note. 

But he jump'd up in er jiffy, 

Feelin' lak he was befo', 
Gibb er han' spring fo' dat chicken, 

But by Jinks he's mos' too slo'. 

'Dough he hit he's haid er stunnah, 

Diden' eben make er dent, 
Kaze, he's so much lak de debbil, 

Haid was hard ez adament. 

All de time de res' was skufflin' 

An' er kickin' right an' lef, 
Got so bunkshus an' bumbastic 

Dey kood hahdly 'tain deyse'f. 

Loudah ! Loudah ! Got de janglin' 

Mo' an' mo' dey ring'd dey bluf , 
Wuss de grabbin' fo' de chicken 

Den's when dey got at it ruf. 

Sum done pullin' out dey razzahs 

An' er kyahvin' fo' de koh. 
All de sistahs got to axin' 

Lawd sake leeb us out de doh ! 

Fin'ly Bruddah Moses wid er 
Kinedah p'culiar kine er trick, 



72 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

Kotch'd de poultry, made er bee-line, 
Cut er reg'lah dubble quick. 

Den sum swo' day had bin kunjud, 
Uddahs 'clahd dey'd bin hoo-dood, 

Lef de ch'ch er swahin' vengeance 
In de wusses' kine er mood. 

^* ^* c^* 

YES, WEES GOT ER FLAG. 

Ise hyeahd while in mah ramblin's 

Dat ah mos' subnoxshus choon, 
Dat ebry bressed nayshun's 

Got er flag excep' de coon. 
I hyeah de white fo'ks sing it, 

An' I hyeah de niggahs, too — 
De way de niggahs sing it 

Seems dey 'cep' de thing fo' true. 

Yes wees got er flag! 

It's de red ! de white ! de blue ! 
It's de only one to which 

De niggahs should be true ! 

It sut'ly am mos' 'gustin' 

Way de niggahs sing de thing. 
Dey clap dey ban's an' hollah 

Sot de kentry all er ring. 
I doesn't blame de white fo'ks 

Ha'f ez much I do de coon 
Fo' singin' an' er whis'lin' 

Sech er "singyooaytin' " chune. 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 73 

Yes wees got er flag! 

It's de red ! de white ! de blue ! 
It's de only one to which 

De niggahs should be true ! 

De little pickahninnies 

Why dey sing dat meetah, too ! 
Dey clap dey han's an' hollah, 

'Zackly lak de ol' fo'ks do — 
An' when I hyeah dem sing it 

Ez dey dance an' joobah pat — 
I feels lak walzin' to 'em 

An' jes' knock'n dem out dey hat. 

Yes wees got er flag ! 

It's de red ! de white ! de blue ! 
It's de only one to which 

De niggahs should be true ! 

De blood ub ah ol' foddahs 

Ah er cry in' fum de groun'. 
Lissun ! chillun, lissun ! 

Doan' yo' hyeah de doleful soun'? 
Ergin' sech kine ub 'spreshuns 

An' er gin sech kine ub choons, 
''Dat ebry race an' nayshun's 

Got er flag excep' de coon." 

Yes wees got er flag! 

It's de red ! de white ! de blue ! 
It's de only one to which 

De niggahs should be true! 



74 PLAXTATIOX ECHOES. 

Dey fo'git when Bruddah Linkkiim 

Gibb er call in sixty-one. 
Fo" fo'ks to jine de army 

Ebn- niggah grabb'd his gun ! 
He lef* his little cabin 

While de ole fo'ks stood in tears. 
To fight fo' dis hyeah kentry 

Ez true faithful volunteers. 

Yes wees got er flag ! 

It's de red I de white ! de blue I 
It's de only one to which 

De niggahs should be true I 

Doh de po' ol' niggah 

Doesn't alius git his rights, 
Fo" his loyal kindness 

Lots er kicks an' lots ub smites, 
Yet 'twas 'neef dat banner 

Ha'f er millun niggahs fought. 
He'p'd to win de vict'rys 

Dat dis mighty kentry wrought. 

Yes wees got er flag ! 

It's de red I de white I de blue ! 
It's de only one to which 

De niggahs should be true ! 

Let all ub de niggahs 

Teach dey chillun all to love. 

Dat ol' starry banner 

Dat am floatin' up er 'bove. 



PLANTATION ECHOES. ?5 

Spite ub all ah trubble 

Things dat makes ah progress lagg, 
'Membah dat 01' Glory 

Am ah bannah, am ah flag ! 

Yes wees got er flag! 

It's de red ! de white ! de blue ! 
It's de only one to which 

De niggahs should be true ! 

Lissun ! chillun, lissun ! 

When dis niggah's in his grave, 
Let dat dah ol' banner 

O'er dis niggah ebbah wave. 
'Kaze dat dah ol' banner 

Undah which ah foddahs fought, 
Am de only banner 

Fo' to love dat I was taught. 

Yes wees got er flag! 

It's de red ! de white ! de blue ! 
It's de only one to which 

De niggahs should be true ! 

4^V 5^% 5^W 

HI, MISTAH DAHKY. 

Hi, mistah dahky ! 

De hoein' time's er cumin' — 

Loafin's nearly obeah 

Fo' er fiddlin' an' er drummin', 



"J^ PLANTATION ECHOES. 

Dancin' wid de ladies 

An' er steppin' lak er racer, 

Drinkin' Tom an' Jerry 

An' sum burbon fo' er bracer. 

Hi, mistah dahky! 

Bin er 'joicin' all de wintah? 

Spawkin' wid de ladies 

An' er cuttin' quite er splintah? 

Dressed up lak er peacock 

Hyah all pawted in de middle, 

Shakein' lak er wilier 

Jes' er prancin' to de fiddle? 

Hi, mistah dahky ! 

See de sun er gittin higher? 

Pohin' down de heatin' 

Lak er Sodom an' Gomire. 

Showers am er fallin' 

An' de gawden craps er sproutin. 

Hi, mistah dahky ! 

In yo' soul is yo' er doubtin'? 

Hi, mistah dahky! 

Mo' den singin' an' er prayin', 

De Mastah am requirin' 

In dis worrul while yo's er stayin', 

Spendin' all yo' time 

Shoutin', knockin' down de benches, 

Beddah take mo' time fo' 

Hoein', fixin' up yo' fences. 



PLANTATION ECHOES. ^^ 

Hi, mistah dahky! 

Am de meadows lookin' temptin'? 

Lak er bed er feddahs 

Make yo' dream lak Israel kemptin' ? 

Sympathizin' wid yo' 

But de fo'ks is dun er sowin'. 

Hi, mistah dahky ! 

Now de nex' thing am de hoein'. 

Hi, mistah dahky ! 

In yo' soul will yo' be singin' 

When yo' see de millins 

On de runnin' vines er cHngin'? 

Sugah co'n er tasslin' 

An' de punkins tarnin' yallah, 

Seasonin' an' er sweetenin' 

Gittin' meely, gittin' mellah. 

^* t^ %^ 



DEY'S ER COL* WAVE BRESHIN' NIGH. 

Trees dey leaves er sheddin', 

An' de grasses tarnin' brown. 
Summah days is obeah, 

An' de wintah's cumin' roun' 
Lonely quail er callin', 

Wid er weary lonely sigh, 
Sno' will soon be fallin', 

Soon er fallin' fum de sky. 



78 PLx\NTAT10N ECHOES. 

Coolsum is de weddah, 

Dey's er col' wave breshin' nigh. 
Look out fo' de wintah, 

Kaze it's cumin' by an' by. 
Lissun at de wailin', 

An' jes' lissun at de moan, 
Lissun at de sighin' 

Tell yo' dat's de wintah's tone. 

Craps dun quit er sproutin', 
Not er millun 's on de vine. 

Haint er watah seedin', 

Not er portion ub er rhine. 

Long time fo' to wait 

Until de wintah leaves dis clime, 

Summah cums er totein' 

'Roun' de sweet ol' millun time. 

Hain't no use er kickin' 

Kaze de Lawd is got control, 
Makin' ub de weddah 

Eedah hot ah eedah col'. 
Nebbah ax er pussun, 

Nebbah no whah on de spot, 
Wheddah dey would lak to 

Hab de weddah col' er hot. 

So jes' well keep joggin' 
'Long er happy sort er way, 

Crackin' jokes er whislin' 
Till de wintah goes estray. 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 79 

Weddah doesn't suit yo', 

Jes' well make yo'se'f content. 
Larn to'cep' de weddah 

Any sort er way it's sent. 

t^* iP* 1^* 

FORCE OF WORDS. 

Chicken stew 

Was all I said. 
Made dat coon 

Hop out o' bed, 
Butt his head 

Ergin de wall 
Kooden' stan' 

De thing at all. 

Jes' dat menshun, 

Jes' dat talk, 
Made dat coon's 

Eyes white ez chawk. 
Looked eroun' 

An' licked his chops 
Ez doh he hyeahd 

Dey wings flopp ! flopp ! 

Well, dem wurds, 

Dey struck dat coon 
Lak er 'lectric 

Shock in June! 



8o PLANTATION ECHOES. 

Kooden' sleep 

No mo' dat night, 

Rolled an' tossed 
Until daylight. 

t^* ^^% jjjw 

I TOL' YO' SO. 

Play in' out dah 

Wid dat white trash', 
I tol' yo' so. 
Dat yo' back 

Wood git er lash ; 
I tol' yo' so. 
Pay no 'tenshun 

Whut I say. 
Alius got 

Sum uddah way. 
Wished yo' haddah, 
P'haps, sum day. 
I tol' yo' so. 

Yo' de wusses' 
Chile in town, 
I tol' yo' so. 
Foll'rin' all 

De white trash 'roun' 
I tol' yo' so. 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 8l 

Aftah Peedah, 

John and Paul, 
Fus' thing fightin' 

Wid 'em all ; 
Den de niggah's 

Fus' to fall. 

T tol' yo' so. 

Licked de 'lasses v 

Off yo' bread, 

I tol' yo' so. - ^ 

Den dey knocked 
Yo' in de head. 
I tol' yo' so. 
Called yo' niggah 
Sich ez dat 
Said yo' hyah 
Wuz lak er mat. 
Umph! Dem white fo'ks 

Made yo' scat. ■ 

I tol' yo' so. 

Umph ! Dey skaid 
Yo' mos' to def. 
I tol' yo' so. 
Look ee dah, 
Yo' out o' bref. 
I tol' yo' so. 



*6 



82 PLAXTATIOX ECHOES. 

Run SO fas" 

Dun los'' yo' hat. 

Got no idea 
Whah it's at; 

Gwine to whoop 
Yo' good fo' dat. 
I tol' yo' so. 



Jt ^ jH 

THE PASSING OF NIGHT. 

De moon's dun sneaked 

Clah out er sight, 
De stars dun quit 

Dey peepin' ; 
De shaddahs dun gone 

Stole erway. 
De Avorld's dun quit 

It's sleepin'. 

De hours dey's slowly 

Creeped erlong 
Until de world's in light 

An' song: 
De sun smiles on 

Creation's throng — 
Er cross de worl' 

Goes sweeping. 



J^LANTAttON ECHOES. 8^ 

A TALE O' WOE. 

Manny am de battle 

Dahky's got to fight. 
Ebbry tarn he's makin' 

Trouble's dah in sight. 
Ef he's got de 'liggun 

Puffec' to de spot, 
Hard to keep fum cussin' 

Losin' all he's got. 

White fo'ks got de money, 

White fo'ks got de Ian,' 
Doan' wan' a po' dahky 

Hab er place to stan'. 
Ef dey miss er chicken 

Ef dey miss er goose, 
Fus' thing grab er dahky 

Fo' de calerboose. 

Long ez he's er hoein', 

Diggin' in de san,' 
Bress yo' soul, say, mistah. 

He am jes' de man. 
Let him git de money 

Cumin' mos' too fas'. 
White fo'ks git to skeemin', 

Say it mussen' las'. 



PLAXTATIOX ECHOES. 

LULLABY. 

Pickahninny, Pickahninny, 

Close yo" little eyes. 
Evenin" am er "proachin', 

Tells yo" sleep an' quit yo' cries, 
Mammy's g^vine to keep 

All o' de boogahman erway — 
Gyahd her little pickahninny 

Till de cumin' day. 

Pickahniimy, pickahninny,, 

Sleep an' take yo" res ; 
Sleep wid all de cumfort 

Ub de birdies in dey nes'. 
When de sun's dun sinkin', 

In de eas' begin to rise, 
^lammy's little pickahninny 

Den kin ope' its eyes. 

Pickahninny, pickahninny, 

Mammy's little love,, 
]\Iay de gyahdin' angels 

Hubbah 'Voun' de fum erbove. 
Wid dey sof'en sweeten whispahs 

Keep de luU'd er sleep,. 
While de weary lonely hours 

Slowly onward creep. 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 85 

Pickahninny, pickahninny, 

Keep er fas' er sleep, 
While de weary, lonely hours 

Slowly onward creep. 
Day will soon be breakin', 

Sun er creepin' 'cross de skies, 
Mammy's little pickahninny 

Den kin ope it's eyes. 

THE ECSTASY OF UNCLE JOE. 

Feel lak shoutin' hallelooyah, 

Habben' got an' ache ner pain. 
Los' dat kahnsahn roomertism. 

No mo' hobblin' wid dat cane. 

Things look lak de Eden Gawden, 

Hardly bleeb dis am mah se'f. 
Dis am bliss in ebbry 'ticklah. 

Tickles mah ol' soul to def. 

Dat snake oil sho' did de bizzness, 

Geddah wid dem herbs an' roots. 
Bress de Lawd ! umph ! grayshus Mahstah ! 

Hardly stay in mah ol' boots ! 

Go 'way, chillun, let yo' daddy 

Hab de place all to hisse'f. 
Kaze de ol' man's jollyfyin' 

An' he's drawin' bran' new bref. 



86 PLAXTATIOX ECHOES. 

Dis ol' frame am no mo' shaky, 
Doh I is mos' eighty-eight. 

Dem ol' jints am jes' ez soople's 
When Ise in mah youthful state. 

Feel lak lay"n erside mah 'liggun. 
Once mo' dance de buck an' wing. 

Is dah 'mong yo' doubtin' Thomas, 
Think dat I kaint do dat thing? 

Oh, I ustah cut it, chillun, 

When ol' fiddlin' Peet was 'roun'. 

Had all o' de white an' brae' fo'ks 
Beat, dat lived er bout de town. 

An' yo bet he was er fiddlah, 

]Make yo' dance yo'se'f leg bowl. 

Played de sweetes' kine o' ditties 
Dat jes' 'joiced yo' berry soul. 

Look hyeah, Rastus ! drap dat fiddle, 
Doan' yo' sot dat thing er chune. 

Ef yo' do, in spite mah 'liggun, 
Make out me er dancin' coon. 

See. de debbil's alius skeemin' 
Fo' to make de Chris'shuns sin. 

Usein' chillun in his bizzness, 
Dat's de wav he takes to win. 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 87 

Now, he put it in li'l Rastus 

Fo' to git dat fiddle down. 
Tho't I kooden' r'sist tem'tayshun 

Fo' to dance at its ol' soun'. 

Not dis time, oh, no! Brer Satan, 

Kin yo' make out me er clown. 
Git me dancin, lose mah 'liggun 

On de las' day lose mah crown. 

Guess I beddah git de Bible, 

Read de Alahstah's bressed Wurd. 
Leeb deez hyeah mischebus raskuls, 

Kaze dey's sum de debil's herd. 

^ ^ ^ 

KEEP ER GOIN'. 

Yo' dat's in de race o' life, 

Keep er goin' ! 
Nebah stop fo' little strife, 

Keep er goin' ! 
Sum one kick yo' on de co'n, 
Nuddah prick yo' wid er thorn, 
Toot loudah on yo' horn, 

Keep er goin' ! 

Ef yo' sortah lose de track, 

Keep er goin' ! 
Doan' tarn fool an' saunter back. 

Keep er goin' ! 



88 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

Take no time to ax an' 'quire, 
Keep er headin' fo' de \vire. 
Push out in de mud an' mire. 
Keep er goin' ! 

Ef de road leads 'roun' an' 'roun', 

Keep er goin' ! 
Sumtimes up an' sumtimes down, 

Keep er goin' ! 
Ef yo' fall an' crack yo' shin, 
Git up, koch yo' secun' win'. 
Spruce up, try de thing ergin. 

Keep er goin' ! 

fe?* ?^* t^* 

CLIMIN' UP DE HILL. 

Fo' to climb de hill o' fame, 

Bet it takes er lot o' tussel. 
It takes er lot er scratchin' 

xA-n' it takes er lot er hus'le. 
It's now an' den er slip, 

An' it's now an' den er stumble. 
Ef yo' 'spec' to reach de summit 

Yo' mus' keep on meek an' humble. 

Ez yo' climin' up de hill, 

Yo' will git er lot er clubbin', 

Yo'll git er lot er knockin'. 

An' yo'll git er lot er drubbin' ! 

L.oIC. 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 89 

Now an' den yo'U mope, 

Den ergin yo'll be er creepin'. 
Yo'll git so tiad an' weary, 

Wan' to res' an' go to sleepin' 

Ez yo' climin' fo' de prize, 

Yo' mus' do er lot o' scramble, 
Yo'll run into de briars, 

An' yo'll strike er lot o' bramble. 
Yo'll fine er lot o' thorns 

'Stead er findin' lots o' roses. 
Keep er headin' fo' de summit, 

Dah is whah success reposes. 

Yo' mussen' spec' er crown 

Fus' widdout sum tribyoolayshun, 
Kaze dat's de rule o' ordah 

Fo' de white an' brackes' nation. 
Yo' kno' it's sumtimes up, 

Den ergin it's in de valley, 
Den ergin yo' go er scootin' 

Towards de goal yo' go er sally. 

.Yo' run on fo' er spell. 

Den ergin yo' git to slippin', 
Yo' now an' den'll reel, 

Git to trippin' an' er tippin', 
But lak de ship o' Zion, 

When de waves it am er dashin' . 
Yo' ride right th'ew de storm, 

In de harbor cum er splashin'. 



90 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

SISTAH RUFFLE. 

No use tawkin/ sistah Ruffle 
Am a gittin' out de kinks; 
Gittin' up to date in fashun, 
She out-dresses sistah Jinks ; 
Got a bran nev/ dress o' satin, 
Wid a hot stuff ruffl'd skirt; 
Way she's lookin' ebry dahky 
At her grinn'd an' tried to flirt. 

An' she's gone an' got a mobeel 

Cumin' down klah to her feet; 

One dem silks trimm'd in white kawdin, 

It's a stunnah, kain't be beet ; 

An' her hat, oh goodness grashus ! 

Lak a flowah bed o' bloom ; 

An' she fewmigate de breezes, 

Wid de sweetes' kine o' 'fewme. 

Oh, yo' know ol' sistah Ruffle, 
Ustah wash erbout de town ; 
Had a husbahn dat was leg-bowl, 
Jes' as ugly as a clown; 
Yes de ol' gal wo' de goggles, 
Hobblin' 'roun' wid roomotick, 
Diden' hab 'em on dat 'kayshun, 
She was flouncin' double quick. 

Doan' yo' know, she am bawlhaided. 
But dat dey she wo' er wig; 



PLANTATION ECHOES. QI 

Dog mah cats ef yo' kood tell it, 
Ef yo' could I'd dance'd a jig; 
Twasn't made fum hyah dat's kinky, 
But fum dat call'd awbun hyah ; 
Looks so poody slick, an' wabey, 
Kine yo' see de white fo'ks wah. 

Had it done an' roll'd in ribbon, 

On de pompydoro style; 

Had deez great big whut yo' call 'em? 

Hyahpins yais yo' right mah chile ; 

At de sides she lef it bushy 

Fo' to kibbah up her yeahs ; 

Kose she seed de white fo'ks do it 

Fo' de las' free o' fo' yeahs. 

Yais, she had on glasses, go 'way ! 
Dem dat habs de gol'en rim 
An' a chain wuz fas'en to 'em, 
Cumin' down beneef her chin ; 
An' her bowkey, go' way honey ! 
It wahs flowahs o' all kine, 
Oh, it look'd mos' loud an' spickyus, 
Wish'd de lawd it had bin mine. 

Oddah seed her when she pass'd us, 
Thow'd her head clah to de cloud ; 
Switch'd her se'f an' kooden' see us, 
Kaze she's togg'd up mos' to loud ; 
Now an' den shed' gib us, honey, 
Whut yo' call de cake wa'k gran', 



92 PLANTATION ECHOES. 

An' her big feet cut no figgah; 
Was' she right? she beet de ban'. 

When she'd pass sto' windahs, honey, 
She'd size up her se'f an' smile; 
Twis' her-se'f an' Hf her trailah, 
Cose she tho'wt she's poody, chile; 
Why, I know'd dat dah ol' dahky 
When she haden' braid to eat ; 
When it cum to shoes an' sockin's, 
Dey was stranjahs to her feet. 

Now she needn't be o' spreadin' 
On befo' me any ahs, 
Kaze de Lawd in heaben knows it, 
Dat I 'bout her doesn't kyahs ; 
She jes' lately got a penshun, 
An' it's sortah swell'd her haid. 
It's a wondah diden' bus' it, 
An' de dahky isn't daid. 

Doan' yo' 'membah when she usetah 
Wah dat bumzeen yallah dress? 
Whah she's gwine to git de nex' one, 
Kep' her alius on de guess ; 
Whut I say a 'bout sum dahkies, 
Ef dey git a rag er to, 
'Speshly dems po' as Jobe's tukehy, 
Dey'll wa'k obah me an' yo'. 

I jes' feed dem kine o' dahkies, 
Wid er big long hanel spoon; 



t>LANtATION ECHOES. QJ 



Bet dey needen' take dis sistah, 
Fo' er hankshef haided coon; 
Kaze it's bawn in all ah kin fo'ks, 
To be stylish an' be proud, 
Nebbah habs dis lady, honey, 
To sech dahkies ebah bow'd. 



THE GALLANT BLACKS OF 
SAN JUAN HILL. 

Without a tremor or a pause. 

Enlisted for their country's cause, 

'Mid shout and song the gallant boys 
Charge up the hill of San Juan. 

Like war-scarred veterans of old. 
Made with patriot ardor bold. 

Press they forward towards the goal, 
Not a soldier falters. 

Blood and carnage everywhere, 

Detonations rend the air, 
Not for once do they despair, 

But press on to conquer. 

See them charge with matchless splendor 
Heart to heart each one's defender. 

All praise for the part they render. 
For them is the victory. 



94 PLANTATION ECHOE^. 

See the starry emblem high ; 

This they'll keep or all will die. 
Forward ! Is their battle cry, 

See them still advancing. 

Hell of fire 'tis their's to greet, 
Comrades falling at their feet. 

Still for them to fight 'tis sweet. 
See them still advancing! 

See the foe's ranks try to rally. 

Thank God ! They've made their last tally. 
Ne'er again will they forth sally, 

Lost their hopes forever! 

Another charge! They reach the summit, 
And the prize at last they've won it, 

Fighting ev'ry inch they've done it, 
Vic'try on their banner. 

Columbia, thou hast won the day, 

Tribute on the altar lay. 
Plaudits to those brave boys pay. 

They thy brave defenders. 

Heaven swing thy gates a-wide, 

Forever in thy walls abide, 
Let those who so nobly died, 

Be this, their reward. 



PLANTATION ECHOES. 95 

In the starry firmament, 

Thou bright gem of government, 
Brightest in the firmament, 

Still thy encircling light. 

As a beacon and a sign, 

To oppressed men ever shine, 
Till on this terrestrial ball, 

God shall end the reign of all. 



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